Facility, method for storing and liquefying a liquefied gas and associated transport vehicle

Abstract

The invention primarily concerns a facility for storing and cooling a liquefied gas, for example a liquefied natural gas, the facility comprising at least one tank configured to contain the liquefied gas, a closed cooling circuit configured to be supplied with liquefied gas in the liquid state coming from the tank, at least one injection member configured for reinjecting cooled liquefied gas into the tank, the facility being characterized in that it comprises at least one connection line configured to recover a cooled gas from at least one remote container that is separate and independent from the facility.

Claims

1. A method of using a facility for storing and cooling a liquefied gas, comprising the steps of: providing a facility comprising: at least one tank configured to contain liquefied gas, said tank comprising at least one lower region adapted and configured to contain the liquefied gas in the liquid state, and at least one upper region adapted and configured to contain the vapors of the liquefied gas; at least one closed cooling circuit adapted and configured to be supplied with liquefied gas in the liquid state coming from the tank, the cooling circuit comprising at least one compressor adapted and configured to compress a cycle gas, at least one engine, at least one turbine, and at least one first heat exchanger adapted and configured to generate a heat exchange between the liquefied gas in a liquid state coming from the tank and the cycle gas so as to cool the liquefied gas coming from the tank when the facility is in operation; at least one injection component fluidly connected to the cooling circuit via an injection pipe, the injection component being adapted and configured to reinject the cooled liquefied gas into the tank; and at least one connection line adapted and configured to recover a gas to be cooled from at least one remote container, which is separate and independent from said facility, said at least one connection line being fluidly connected to the tank of the facility, wherein the engine is mechanically connected to the compressor in order to drive the compressor and also to the turbine so that the turbine drives the engine; at least partially receiving liquefied gas coming from a first remote container, which is separate and independent from the facility, via the connection line that fluidly connects the at least one tank to the remote container, the first remote container being separate and independent from the facility; supplying the cooling circuit with liquefied gas coming from the tank; cooling the liquefied gas coming from the tank with the cooling circuit; and injecting the cooled liquefied gas into the tank with the injection component; transferring at least some of the cooled liquefied gas to the remote container with the injection pipe; and transferring cooled liquefied gas remaining in the at least one tank to one or more empty remote containers which are separate and independent from the facility.

2. A method of using a facility for storing and cooling a liquefied gas, comprising the steps of: providing a first facility comprising: at least one tank configured to contain liquefied gas, said tank comprising at least one lower region adapted and configured to contain the liquefied gas in the liquid state, and at least one upper region adapted and configured to contain the vapors of the liquefied gas; at least one closed cooling circuit adapted and configured to be supplied with liquefied gas in the liquid state coming from the tank, the cooling circuit comprising at least one compressor adapted and configured to compress a cycle gas, at least one engine, at least one turbine, and at least one first heat exchanger adapted and configured to generate a heat exchange between the liquefied gas in a liquid state coming from the tank and the cycle gas so as to cool the liquefied gas coming from the tank when the facility is in operation; at least one injection component fluidly connected to the cooling circuit via an injection pipe, the injection component being adapted and configured to reinject the cooled liquefied gas into the tank; and at least one connection line adapted and configured to recover a gas to be cooled from at least one remote container, which is separate and independent from said facility, said at least one connection line being fluidly connected to the tank of the facility, wherein the engine is mechanically connected to the compressor in order to drive the compressor and also to the turbine so that the turbine drives the engine; providing a second facility comprising: at least one tank configured to contain liquefied gas, said tank comprising at least one lower region adapted and configured to contain the liquefied gas in the liquid state, and at least one upper region adapted and configured to contain the vapors of the liquefied gas; at least one closed cooling circuit adapted and configured to be supplied with liquefied gas in the liquid state coming from the tank, the cooling circuit comprising at least one compressor adapted and configured to compress a cycle gas, at least one engine, at least one turbine, and at least one first heat exchanger adapted and configured to generate a heat exchange between the liquefied gas in a liquid state coming from the tank and the cycle gas so as to cool the liquefied gas coming from the tank when the facility is in operation; at least one injection component fluidly connected to the cooling circuit via an injection pipe, the injection component being adapted and configured to reinject the cooled liquefied gas into the tank; and at least one connection line adapted and configured to recover a gas to be cooled from at least one remote container, which is separate and independent from said facility, said at least one connection line being fluidly connected to the tank of the facility, wherein the engine is mechanically connected to the compressor in order to drive the compressor and also to the turbine so that the turbine drives the engine, at least one of the at least one tank of the second facility being empty; at least partially receiving liquefied gas coming from a first remote container, which is separate and independent from the first and second facilities, via the connection line that fluidly connects the at least one tank of the first facility to the first remote container, the first remote container being separate and independent from the facility; supplying the cooling circuit of the first facility with liquefied gas coming from the tank of the first facility; cooling the liquefied gas coming from the tank of the first facility with the cooling circuit of the first facility, thereby producing cooled liquefied gas; and injecting the cooled liquefied gas into the tank of the first facility with the injection component of the first facility; transferring at least some of the cooled liquefied gas to the first remote container with the injection pipe of the first facility; and transferring cooled liquefied gas remaining in the first remote container to the at least one empty tank of the second facility.

3. A method of using a facility for storing and cooling a liquefied gas, comprising the steps of: providing a facility comprising at least one tank configured to contain liquefied gas, said tank comprising at least one lower region adapted and configured to contain the liquefied gas in the liquid state, and at least one upper region adapted and configured to contain the vapors of the liquefied gas; at least one closed cooling circuit adapted and configured to be supplied with liquefied gas in the liquid state coming from the tank, the cooling circuit comprising at least one compressor adapted and configured to compress a cycle gas, at least one engine, at least one turbine, and at least one first heat exchanger adapted and configured to generate a heat exchange between the liquefied gas in a liquid state coming from the tank and the cycle gas so as to cool the liquefied gas coming from the tank when the facility is in operation; at least one injection component fluidly connected to the cooling circuit via an injection pipe, the injection component being adapted and configured to reinject the cooled liquefied gas into the tank; and at least one connection line adapted and configured to recover a gas to be cooled from at least one remote container, which is separate and independent from said facility, said at least one connection line being fluidly connected to the tank of the facility, wherein the engine is mechanically connected to the compressor in order to drive the compressor and also to the turbine so that the turbine drives the engine; at least partially receiving liquefied gas coming from a first remote container, which is separate and independent from the facility, via the connection line that fluidly connects the at least one tank to the remote container, the first remote container being separate and independent from the facility; supplying the cooling circuit with liquefied gas coming from the tank; cooling the liquefied gas coming from the tank with the cooling circuit; and injecting the cooled liquefied gas into the tank with the injection component; transferring at least some of the cooled liquefied gas to a second remote container with the injection pipe, the second remote container being empty; and transferring cooled liquefied gas remaining in the first remote tank to the second remote tank.

4. A method of using a facility for storing and cooling a liquefied gas, comprising the steps of: providing a first facility comprising: at least one tank configured to contain liquefied gas, said tank comprising at least one lower region adapted and configured to contain the liquefied gas in the liquid state, and at least one upper region adapted and configured to contain the vapors of the liquefied gas; at least one closed cooling circuit adapted and configured to be supplied with liquefied gas in the liquid state coming from the tank, the cooling circuit comprising at least one compressor adapted and configured to compress a cycle gas, at least one engine, at least one turbine, and at least one first heat exchanger adapted and configured to generate a heat exchange between the liquefied gas in a liquid state coming from the tank and the cycle gas so as to cool the liquefied gas coming from the tank when the facility is in operation; at least one injection component fluidly connected to the cooling circuit via an injection pipe, the injection component being adapted and configured to reinject the cooled liquefied gas into the tank; and at least one connection line adapted and configured to recover a gas to be cooled from at least one remote container, which is separate and independent from said facility, said at least one connection line being fluidly connected to the tank of the facility, wherein the engine is mechanically connected to the compressor in order to drive the compressor and also to the turbine so that the turbine drives the engine; providing a second facility comprising: at least one tank configured to contain liquefied gas, said tank comprising at least one lower region adapted and configured to contain the liquefied gas in the liquid state, and at least one upper region adapted and configured to contain the vapors of the liquefied gas; at least one closed cooling circuit adapted and configured to be supplied with liquefied gas in the liquid state coming from the tank, the cooling circuit comprising at least one compressor adapted and configured to compress a cycle gas, at least one engine, at least one turbine, and at least one first heat exchanger adapted and configured to generate a heat exchange between the liquefied gas in a liquid state coming from the tank and the cycle gas so as to cool the liquefied gas coming from the tank when the facility is in operation; at least one injection component fluidly connected to the cooling circuit via an injection pipe, the injection component being adapted and configured to reinject the cooled liquefied gas into the tank; and at least one connection line adapted and configured to recover a gas to be cooled from at least one remote container, which is separate and independent from said facility, said at least one connection line being fluidly connected to the tank of the facility, wherein the engine is mechanically connected to the compressor in order to drive the compressor and also to the turbine so that the turbine drives the engine, at least one of the at least one tank of the second facility being empty; at least partially receiving liquefied gas coming from a first remote container, which is separate and independent from the first and second facilities, via the connection line that fluidly connects the at least one tank of the first facility to the first remote container, the first remote container being separate and independent from the first facility; supplying the cooling circuit with liquefied gas coming from the at least one tank of the first facility; cooling the liquefied gas coming from the at least one tank of the first facility with the cooling circuit of the first facility; injecting the cooled liquefied gas into the tank of the first facility with the injection component of the first facility; and transferring at least some of the cooled liquefied gas to a second remote container with a bypass pipe connected to the injection pipe of the first facility; and transferring cooled liquefied gas remaining in the at least one tank of the first facility to a second remote container separate and independent of the first and second facilities and which is empty before transfer to the cooled liquefied gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to embodiments according to the present invention, which are provided by way of non-limiting examples and are explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a facility according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a cooling device forming part of the facility of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a facility according to a variation of the first embodiment of the invention; and

(5) FIG. 4A is a simplified graphic representation showing the distribution of the consumption of the natural gas vaporized on a ship over time toward the engine, toward a flare and toward a reliquefaction system according to the prior art;

(6) FIG. 4B is a simplified graphic representation similar to that of FIG. 4A showing the distribution of the consumption of the natural gas vaporized on a ship over time toward the engine, toward a flare and toward a reliquefaction system according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) As shown in FIG. 1, the facility 1 according to a first embodiment comprises a tank 4 comprising a lower region 4.1 intended to contain liquefied gas 2 in the liquid state and an upper region 4.2 intended to contain the vapors of the liquefied gas 2. Furthermore, the facility 1 comprises a cooling circuit 10, particularly shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, the cooling circuit 10 is located outside the tank, i.e. the liquefied gas is (only) cooled outside the tank. In other words, the liquefied gas is taken from the tank, is cooled outside the tank and is then reinjected into the tank in the cooled state. The cooling device 10 is connected to the fluid inside the tank 4 via a sampling pipe that penetrates the tank. The tank 4 is equipped with a pump 22 that allows the liquefied gas in the liquid state to be brought to the cooling circuit in order to be cooled and with at least one injection component 20 that allows the cooled liquefied gas to be reinjected into the tank 4. The injection component comprises a return pipe that connects the cooling device (outside the tank) to the inside of the tank 4 and comprises the injection component 20. Advantageously, the injection component 20 can comprise a plurality of nozzles.

(8) Furthermore, and as shown in FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment of the facility, the facility 1 comprises a connection line 31 configured to route gas to be liquefied from at least one remote container 100, which is separate and independent from the facility 1, to the tank of the facility.

(9) According to a variation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the facility 1 comprises an injection pipe 30 fluidly connecting the cooling circuit and the injection component 20, and at least one bypass pipe 32 connected to the injection pipe 30 and intended to transfer some of the cooled liquefied gas 2 to a remote container (not shown), which is separate and independent from the facility 1.

(10) For example, another tank 4 is shown as a dotted line in FIG. 3. This tank 4, of the same facility or of another facility, can be supplied with liquefied gas via the bypass pipe 32 and a respective injection component 20, where applicable.

(11) Of course, in another variation (not shown), the bypass pipe 32 and the connection line 31 can be installed on the same facility.

(12) As shown in FIG. 2, and irrespective of the configuration of the facility 1, the cooling circuit 10 is closed and autonomous and is configured to be supplied with liquefied gas 2 in the liquid state coming from the tank 4. The cooling circuit 10 comprises at least one compressor 12 configured to compress a cycle gas 3, at least one engine 14, at least one turbine 18, and at least one first heat exchanger 16 configured to generate a heat exchange between the liquefied gas 2 and the cycle gas.

(13) As can be seen in FIG. 2, the engine 14 is mechanically connected, on the one hand, to the compressor 12 in order to drive the compressor 12 and, on the other hand, to the turbine 18 so that the turbine 18 drives the engine 14.

(14) The cooling circuit 10 further comprises a second heat exchanger 24 configured to generate a heat exchange between the compressed cycle gas 3 and the expanded cycle gas 3, as shown in FIG. 2.

(15) The cooling circuit 10 further comprises a third heat exchanger 26 configured to generate a heat exchange between the compressed cycle gas 3 and water or air or any other coolant coming from an external source.

(16) In the event that one or more of the tank(s) 4 contain(s) liquefied natural gas on a vehicle, in particular a ship, the natural gas that vaporizes can be used as fuel for an engine of the vehicle and any excess gas is burnt in a flare, for example.

(17) FIG. 4A shows the distribution of the consumption (axis of ordinates y in tons per day) of the natural gas vaporized on a ship over time (axis of abscissae x) toward the engine (C: section with horizontal shading), toward the flare (A: section with inclined shading) and toward the reliquefaction system (B: section without shading) for a known facility.

(18) FIG. 4B shows the distribution of the consumption in tons per day (y axis) of the natural gas vaporized on a ship over time (x axis) toward the engine (C), toward the flare (A) and toward the reliquefaction system (B) for the facility according to the invention.

(19) It can be seen that, according to the known facility (FIG. 4A), losses of vaporized gas remain at the end of the journey since the engines and the facility are not designed to recover this gas. However, in FIG. 4B, by virtue of the facility according to the invention, there is no longer a peak at the end of the journey, the losses are minimal, particularly by virtue of the system for refrigerating the tanks.

(20) Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying figures. Modifications are still possible, particularly in terms of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of equivalent techniques, yet without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

(21) While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. The present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore, if there is language referring to order, such as first and second, it should be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.

(22) The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(23) “Comprising” in a claim is an open transitional term which means the subsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive listing i.e. anything else may be additionally included and remain within the scope of “comprising.” “Comprising” is defined herein as necessarily encompassing the more limited transitional terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of”; “comprising” may therefore be replaced by “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” and remain within the expressly defined scope of “comprising”.

(24) “Providing” in a claim is defined to mean furnishing, supplying, making available, or preparing something. The step may be performed by any actor in the absence of express language in the claim to the contrary.

(25) Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described event or circumstances may or may not occur. The description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not occur.

(26) Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value, along with all combinations within said range.

(27) All references identified herein are each hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entireties, as well as for the specific information for which each is cited.